Weekend Recruiting Wrap: Double-Digit Commitments, Top Camp Performers Coast to Coast

The weekend provided plenty of college football recruiting fireworks from big-time verbal commitments to head-turning camp performances. SI All-American plays catch up here.

What college football offseason?

For those who feel there is quite the lull in college football news in between the NFL Combine and the NFL Draft, think again. The recruiting trail is a 12 month story and the second weekend of March reminded the sports world. 

A bevy of top prospects made college decisions while making unofficial visits to places like Florida and North Carolina, while the Elite 11, Under Armour and 7-on-7 events nationally provided the latest examples of why certain prospects are so coveted by America's top college programs. 

Return of the Mack

North Carolina is absolutely blazing hot on the recruiting trail. Mack Brown and company have claimed the Tar Heel State's top prospects in short order over the last several days. 

It kicked off Mach 3 with a commitment from long, elite edge rusher Keeshawn Silver, who promised additional pledges moving forward. Three days later, the biggest Carolina get since perhaps quarterback Sam Howell went public with a decision. 

Drake Maye, the high-ceiling quarterback and younger brother of former UNC hoops star Luke Maye, flipped his commitment from Alabama to the home state program March 6 to remind the recruiting world of the Tar Heel rise. 

Committed to The University of North Carolina! Go Heels🐏 Edit-@Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/ZaA32bnZZ5

— Drake Maye (@DrakeMaye2) March 6, 2020

Should the rising senior QB, who threw for 50 touchdowns in 2019, not be enough -- his commitment only kicked off the recruiting weekend. With unofficial visitors in Chapel Hill, Carolina picked up two more coveted pledges in wide receiver Kobe Paysour on Saturday and offensive lineman Eli Sutton on Sunday.

Only Miami, with 10 commitments early on, holds more early pledges than UNC (and Clemson) with nine on board. No program in America is hotter on the trail, however. Visit AllTarHeels.com for more. 

Other Weekend Commitments

Fla. TE Nick Elksnis - Florida (full story)

Ala. DB Edwin White - Tennessee

N.C. DL Isaac Washington - Tennessee

N.C. WR Julian Gray - NC State

N.C. DB Langston Long - Virginia

Calif. DE Akili Calhoun - Cal (full story)

Md. DE Kyonte Hamilton - Rutgers

Mo. OL Connor Tollison - Missouri

Big Names Trip to Oklahoma, Clemson, Alabama and More

Yielding verbal commitments isn't the only way to tangibly gauge a big recruiting weekend on a given campus. Just look at Oklahoma, which appears on the verge for another recruiting run following a weekend in which the top uncommitted quarterback in the country -- Caleb Williams -- took a multi-day trip to Norman. While in town the D.C. dual-threat got to spend with with OU's coaching staff, the president of the university and the latest elite Sooner QB, Jalen Hurts. 

[Related: Caleb Williams looks back on OU trip, talks QB development]

Clemson hosted a strong group of 2021 prospects over the weekend with talent at several positions from Florida wide receiver Troy Stellato to Pennsylvania offensive tackle Nolan Rucci and Georgia defensive back Jordan Hancock. 

Thank you @ClemsonFB and staff for a great visit to Clemson! @OLCoachCaldwell @ClemsonPrez @Clements_TJC #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/hIob0Lrx3E

— Nolan Rucci (@nolanrucci) March 8, 2020

Alabama had impressive rising seniors and rising juniors in Tuscaloosa, with a strong focus within state lines, especially with underclassmen recruits. 

Trench Talent Shines at Under Armour Miami Camp

SI All-American spent Sunday in south Florida checking out the next wave of top prospects from the nation's most fertile recruiting ground. 

As seen in the above video, plays were made throughout the afternoon by some of America's most coveted prospects. When all was said and done, five prospects were invited to the 2021 Under Armour All-America Game, the most from one event in the camp tour's history per organizers. 

[Related: Recruiting Notes from Under Armour Miami]

SIAA laid out its top performers immediately after competition wrapped, with six of the 13 standouts coming from the offensive and defensive line groups. 

Pair of Cali QBs Punch Tickets to Elite 11 Finals

California remains ground zero for college football recruiting at the game's most important position. 

Last cycle, the top two passers in America hailed from the Golden State and the 2021 group looks to be just as strong at the top. With several well-known competitors throwing at the Elite 11's California stop on Saturday, a pair got the news every prep passer covets -- a ticket to the Elite 11 Finals. 

Recent winners Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields set a strong precedent for the prestigious event, where the 2020 winner came from California. CJ Stroud, the rising freshman at Ohio State, was on hand to present the latest tickets and offer advice to weekend winners Tyler Buchner and Miller Moss. 

Buchner is a Notre Dame commitment while Moss is one of the most courted uncommitted arms in America.

Brian Smith contributed to this report.

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